UFC on ESPN 10 Predictions: Jessica Eye vs Cynthia Calvillo

For the second straight week, UFC will have two women headlining an event. Jessica Eye will meet Cynthia Calvillo in the headliner of UFC on ESPN 10. The winner of the fight will be very close to a title shot against the champ Valentina Shevchenko.

The Women’s Flyweight division possesses its problems. It has a champ that has been utterly dominant throughout her reign. However, there is a sharp fall in the quality of competition after “Bullet”. In all fairness, no one seems good enough to dethrone her as of now. However, the two women fighting this weekend possibly have the best odds out to put an end to her reign in the future.

Eye is coming off a win right after a failed bid to capture the Flyweight gold from Shevchenko. However, the result will be met with an asterisk due to her showing up way ahead of the Flyweight limit. Her weight cutting issue refused to leave her even for this weight. Eye showed up a quarter-pound over the weight limit. Moreover, she looked drained and it seemed that her body had taken the brunt of the weight cut.

Cynthia, on the other hand, is no stranger to the horrors of weight-cuts. After spending significant time at Strawweight, Calvillo is moving up to Flyweight. She has missed weight several times, the most recent one in her last fight against Marino Rodriguez which ended in a majority draw.

Moving up a weight class hasn’t always solved the problems of fighters struggling to make weight. However, what is certain is that Calvillo would certainly have had one less thing to worry about.

Prediction: Cynthia Calvillo wins via a fourth-round TKO

The fact that the fight is held for five rounds will play a major role in deciding the outcome. Both the fighters have shown that they are capable of pushing the pace for three rounds. Beyond that lies a realm full of questions. None of the fighters have a record of knocking their opponents out. The same shall be expected from this fight as well.

Another factor to be considered is Calvillo’s recent change of camps from Team Alpha Male to American Kickboxing Academy. While both are prime training locations, a shake-up in the training staff often gives the fighters a chance to evolve.

Cynthia should be able to use her striking along with an efficient mix of takedowns to put the pressure on her opponent. Jessica will have the advantage of her size. She is considerably bigger than the former Strawweight. However, it seems that the weight cut has done the damage. Calvillo should be able to take the fight to the deep waters and finish Jessica in the fourth round.